MIDNAPORE: Days in hand: 16. Number of adults to be educated: 63
This was the target set by the West Midnapore district administration at an adult literacy programme for 55 uneducated women and 8 men at Birsingha village under Ghatal block — the birthplace of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar. The aim is to empower these villagers to write their own names on Vidyasagar’s 201st birth anniversary, September 26.
“In 2019, a survey was conducted at the village and it was found that 63 people were uneducated. We had started an adult literacy programme where local youths taught adults after school hours under the leadership of the headmaster. They had learnt to write their own names and some even learnt to read books. But the pandemic forced the programme to be shut and led to the villagers forgetting their lessons. We resumed the drive again from Wednesday and will conduct a test on September 26 to check their literacy status,” said Suman Biswas, sub-divisional officer of Ghatal.
Situated around 110km from Kolkata, the village has a population of around 3,200 spread over 700-odd families. “Among those who still can’t read or write are mostly women from Adivasi tribes at Mondol Para, Ashram Para, Daspara and Santra Para neighbourhoods,” said Shaktipada Bera, the local school headmaster.
The elderly students were also thrilled at the initiative and, at an official programme on International Literacy Day on September 8, said they were ready to resume classes.
“I can’t read or write. We were taught once but I have forgotten. But I will try to learn again,” said Niyati Dolui (60). Others like Lakshmi Tudu (57), Panmani Murmu (70) and Haradhan Santra (60) said they had to give thumb impressions when registering for schemes like Lakshmir Bhandar and Sasthya Sathi cards. “I would like to write my name myself and make my village proud,” said Tudu.
District magistrate Rashmi Kamal said the Covid-19 pandemic had thwarted the progress of the village towards 100% literacy, but was confident the new drive would help reach that goal.
